Unusual French Adjectives

I would call an adjective that goes at the end of a word that changes
in gender or in the plural, a normal adjective.
I have tried to list all the unusual ones here, as best I can that
either don't change (like marron), preceede a noun (like
bon), change the meaning depending on the position (like propre) or
have strange changes (like nouveau).
"No change" means that the adjective doesn't change in gender or in the
plural e.g. marron and any compound colours e.g. une boîte
vert clair = a light green box but adjectives are joined with 'et' and
they use the feminine (if that version exists) e.g. une jupe bleue et
jaune.
Word1 + NOUN + Word2 means that the definition changes depending on
it's position e.g. pauvre but when there is one word like petit: small
+ NOUN - that means it is in front of the word and means small.
Putting
an adjective in front isn't wrong though. When it is behind, it is just
a description, like colour. Putting it in front gives it an emotional
nuance.
Note that some adjectives have odd feminine forms just to make the last
consonant audible e.g. bas - masculine, basse - feminine.

Adjective

Meaning
and notes

ancien(s)
/ ancienne(s)

former + NOUN +
ancient

beau / bel /
belle

fine + NOUN
The masculine versions have two types. Choose the one that flows better
in to the next word instead of deciding whether the next word starts
with a vowel etc.
beau(x) + masculine noun starting with a consonant, beau-frère
= brother-in-law
bel + masculine noun starting with a vowel (does this have a plural
version?)
belle(s) + feminine noun - la belle vie

blanc(s) /
blanche(s)

unusual
feminine ending

bon(s) /
bonne(s)

good + NOUN

certain(e)(s)

one / certain
(unsure) + NOUN + definite
un certain jour de juillet = a certain day in July

cher(s) /
chère(s):

dear (with
people, increases emotion) + NOUN + dear / expensive

chic(s)

No feminine
form
but it has a plural form - chics

court(e)(s):

short + NOUN

dernier(s) /
dernières

last in a
sequence + NOUN + last (previous)

divers (masc.
sing. & plural)
diverse(s) (feminine)

various + NOUN
+ varying (e.g. réponses diverses = varying answers)

fatal(s)

unusual plural
form

faux / fausse(s)

unusual
feminine form

final(s)

unusual plural
form

frais / fraîche(s)

frais -
masculine / fraîche(s) - feminine

fou(s) / fol / folle(s) +
NOUN

The masculine
versions have two types. Choose the one that flows better
in to the next word instead of deciding whether the next word starts
with a vowel etc.
fou(s) + masculine noun starting with a consonant
fol + masculine noun starting with a vowel (does this have a plural
version?)
folle(s) + feminine noun

gentil(s) / gentille(s)

nice + NOUN

grand(e)(s)

big + NOUN

gros / grosse(s)

big / fat + NOUN

impromptu

No change

jeune(s)

young + NOUN

joli(e)(s)

pretty + NOUN

k(h)aki

No
change

long(s) / longue(e)

long + NOUN

marron

No
change

mauvais(e)(s)

bad + NOUN

maximum

No
feminine form but it has a plural form - maximums

méchant(e)(s)

nasty + NOUN

meilleur(e)(s)

better / best +
NOUN

même(s)

same + NOUN +
very
la femme même = the very woman, but it
can mean 'even' in front of a pronoun or articles such as this / that
etc. - même toi = even you, même si = even if

minimum

No feminine
form
but it has a plural form - minimums

moindre(s)

less / least +
NOUN

mou(s) / mol / molle(s) +
NOUN

The masculine
versions have two types. Choose the one that flows better
in to the next word instead of deciding whether the next word starts
with a vowel etc.
mou(s) + masculine noun starting with a consonant
mol + masculine noun starting with a vowel (does this have a plural
version?)
molle(s) + feminine noun

naval(s)

unusual plural
form

nouveau(x) / nouvel /
nouvelle(s)

new + NOUN
The masculine versions have two types. Choose the one that flows better
in to the next word instead of deciding whether the next word starts
with a vowel etc.
nouveau(x) + masculine noun starting with a consonant
nouvel + masculine noun starting with a vowel (does this have a plural
version?)
nouvelle(s) + feminine noun

I have seen this though:Relâchez les tensions avec cette gymnastique nouvelle

pauvre(s)

poor (pity) +
NOUN + poor (not rich)

petit(e)(s)

little + NOUN

pire(s)

worse / worst +
NOUN

seul(e)(s)

only (one) +
NOUN + alone

snob

No
change

propre(s)

own + NOUN +
clean

vaste(s)

vast + NOUN

vieux / vieil / vieille(s)

The masculine
versions have two types. Choose the one that flows better
in to the next word instead of deciding whether the next word starts
with a vowel etc.
vieux + masculine noun starting with a consonant (no plural version
since it ends in x)
vieil + masculine noun starting with a vowel (does this have a plural
version?)
vieille(s) + feminine noun

vilain(e)(s)

ugly + NOUN

vrai(e)(s)

genuine / real
+ NOUN + true (not falsified)

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